Premium
BDNF and BMI effects on brain structures of bipolar offspring: results from the global mood and brain science initiative
Author(s) -
Mansur R. B.,
Brietzke E.,
McIntyre R. S.,
Cao B.,
Lee Y.,
Japiassú L.,
Chen K.,
Lu R.,
Lu W.,
Li T.,
Xu G.,
Lin K.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/acps.12822
Subject(s) - offspring , bipolar disorder , medicine , body mass index , psychology , brain derived neurotrophic factor , mood , overweight , endocrinology , neuroimaging , brain size , mood disorders , neurotrophic factors , magnetic resonance imaging , pregnancy , neuroscience , clinical psychology , psychiatry , biology , genetics , radiology , anxiety , receptor
Objective To compare brain‐derived neurotrophic factor ( BDNF ) levels between offspring of individuals with bipolar disorders ( BD ) and healthy controls ( HC s) and investigate the effects of BDNF levels and body mass index ( BMI ) on brain structures. Method Sixty‐seven bipolar offspring and 45 HC s were included (ages 8‐28). Structural images were acquired using 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging. Serum BDNF levels were measured using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Multivariate and univariate analyses of covariance were conducted. Results Significantly higher BDNF levels were observed among bipolar offspring, relative to HC s ( P > 0.025). Offspring status moderated the association between BDNF and BMI (F 1 =4.636, P = 0.034). After adjustment for relevant covariates, there was a trend for a significant interaction of group and BDNF on neuroimaging parameters (Wilks’λ F 56,94 =1.463, P = 0.052), with significant effects on cerebellar white matter and superior and middle frontal regions. Brain volume and BDNF were positively correlated among HC s and negatively correlated among bipolar offspring. Interactions between BDNF and BMI on brain volumes were non‐significant among HC s (Wilks’λ F 28,2 =2.229, P = 0.357), but significant among bipolar offspring (Wilks’λ F 28,12 =2.899, P = 0.028). Conclusion Offspring status and BMI moderate the association between BDNF levels and brain structures among bipolar offspring, underscoring BDNF regulation and overweight/obesity as key moderators of BD pathogenesis.